Eighteen years later, the Federal Government has approved a new framework for fair and equitable compensation rates for crops and economic trees to ensure adequate recompense for persons affected by government projects.
   
The initiative was developed with support from the World Bank and the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Programme (RAAMP).  Project-affected persons are to receive compensation that reflects current economic realities. For instance, under the revised rates for matured trees in the North Central zone, cashews increased from N2,000 per matured stand to N45,000 and N5.5 million per hectare.
   
Also, mango increased from N4,000 per matured stand to N105,000 and N13 million per hectare, cocoa increased from N3,000 per matured stand to N160,000 and N160 million per hectare.
   
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, who revealed this at the 13th meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development in Gombe, noted that transparent land administration enhances property rights, reduces conflicts, and encourages sustainable land use practices, which together foster a stable environment for economic activities.
   
According to him, effective land governance is important to national and economic development. He also disclosed that the ministry and the World Bank have entered into a groundbreaking partnership to tackle Nigeria’s long-standing land registration challenges.   Currently, over 90 per cent of the country’s land remains unregistered, representing an estimated $300 billion in untapped capital.
   
The minister, who noted that the National Urban Development Policy (NUDP) is currently awaiting approval by the Federal Executive Council, said such a policy was necessary for the country’s sustainable future.
   
Explaining the nexus between effective urban planning, public health, and climate change, Dangiwa said proper planning would ensure better sanitation, disease control and containment, and quicker access to health facilities, as well as smart city designs that support climate action.